Patents by Inventor Yuji Aoki

Yuji Aoki has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9315035
    Abstract: A liquid container retaining unit includes: a first urging member for generating, in relation to the insertion of a liquid container into the container retaining element, an urging force to urge the liquid container in a removal direction; a container retaining mechanism for releasing the liquid container from a restricted state by moving the liquid container retained in the restricted state in the insertion direction so that the urging force of the first urging member is capable of moving the liquid container in the removal direction; a second urging member for generating, when the liquid container is retained within the container retaining element in the restricted state, an urging force to urge so as to cause the first electrodes on the liquid container and the second electrodes on the container retaining element to abut against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Maruyama, Yuji Aoki
  • Publication number: 20160098312
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a log management program that causes a computer to execute a process includes obtaining a log item group included in each log and having a periodicity, for each of a plurality of logs outputted from a plurality of monitoring targets, detecting a first log item group from a first log, the first log item group being different from the log item group included in the first log, specifying a second log item group outputted in a same period as that of the first log item group, from a second log related to the first log, extracting the first log item group from the first log, and outputting the first log item group, and extracting the specified second log item group from the second log, and outputting the second log item group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: KAZUAKI KOZAWA, Kenichi Narita, Yuji Aoki, Norio Inoue
  • Patent number: 9272521
    Abstract: A liquid housing container recycling method is provided for a liquid housing container with a liquid housing body that includes a liquid housing unit that is configured to house liquid, a supply member with a supply port that is configured to be connected to a liquid supply tube of a liquid consuming device, and a filter through which the liquid is configured to pass, with the liquid inside the liquid housing unit being supplied to the liquid consuming device by, after passing through the filter, flowing to the supply port along a supply flow path of the supply member. The liquid housing container recycling method includes forming a detour flow path in the liquid housing body such that the liquid inside the liquid housing unit flows to the supply port without passing through the filter in the detour flow path, and injecting the liquid inside the liquid housing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Aoki
  • Patent number: 9266337
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a concave portion. The concave portion has an opening, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall, and the bottom wall has a tilted surface tilted. The tilted surface is provided with a cartridge side terminal group. The first side wall is provided with a first restriction portion which restricts movements in a +Z axis direction and a +X axis direction of an apparatus side terminal unit, and the second side wall is provided with a second restriction portion which restricts movements in the +Z axis direction and a ?X axis direction of an apparatus side terminal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Hiroshi Satoh
  • Publication number: 20160031224
    Abstract: A cartridge includes a concave portion. The concave portion has an opening, first and second side walls, and a bottom wall, and the bottom wall has a tilted surface tilted. The tilted surface is provided with a cartridge side terminal group. The first side wall is provided with a first restriction portion which restricts movements in a +Z axis direction and a +X axis direction of an apparatus side terminal unit, and the second side wall is provided with a second restriction portion which restricts movements in the +Z axis direction and a ?X axis direction of an apparatus side terminal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Hiroshi Satoh
  • Patent number: 9227415
    Abstract: A liquid containing body includes a liquid containing vessel, and a casing member. The liquid containing vessel contains a liquid, and includes a supply member with a liquid supply opening that supplies the liquid to a liquid consumption apparatus. The casing member supports at least the supply member. The supply member has a cylindrical flow path section that defines the liquid supply opening. The casing member has a through hole forming section with a through hole. The cylindrical flow path section is insertable in the through hole. The casing member further has an engaging section that engages with the supply member to regulate movement of the cylindrical flow path section in an opposite direction to an insertion direction while the cylindrical flow path section is rotated with the insertion direction as an axial line in a state where the cylindrical flow path section is inserted in the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Nagashima, Taku Ishizawa, Yuji Aoki
  • Patent number: 9216583
    Abstract: A liquid container is configured to be detachably attached to a liquid container storage section having a liquid supply section, and a damping section including a movement section that seals off one end of a recess space and is movable in a direction of compression in which air of the recess space is compressed, and an urging section that urges the movement section in a direction opposite to the direction of compression. The liquid container includes a liquid lead-out section configured to be connected to the liquid supply section, and an abutment section arranged on a same side as a side section to which the liquid lead-out section is provided, and abuttable against the movement section in a direction of mounting that matches the direction of compression when the liquid container moves in the direction of mounting with respect to the liquid container storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Naoki Naito, Takeshi Iwamuro, Ryoji Fujimori, Keiichiro Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20150273842
    Abstract: A liquid container is configured to be detachably attached to a liquid container storage section having a liquid supply section, and a damping section including a movement section that seals off one end of a recess space and is movable in a direction of compression in which air of the recess space is compressed, and an urging section that urges the movement section in a direction opposite to the direction of compression. The liquid container includes a liquid lead-out section configured to be connected to the liquid supply section, and an abutment section arranged on a same side as a side section to which the liquid lead-out section is provided, and abuttable against the movement section in a direction of mounting that matches the direction of compression when the liquid container moves in the direction of mounting with respect to the liquid container storage section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Yuji AOKI, Naoki NAITO, Takeshi IWAMURO, Ryoji FUJIMORI, Keiichiro YOSHINO
  • Patent number: 9139013
    Abstract: A cartridge comprises: a printing material container; a printing material supplier that supplies a printing material contained in the printing material container to a printing device; a first surface and a second surface that are opposed to each other; a third surface that intersects with the first surface and the second surface; a fourth surface that is opposed to the third surface; a cartridge-side engagement structure that is provided on the third surface at a position closer to the first surface than the second surface and is configured to be engaged with a device-side engagement structure of the printing device; and contact portions that are provided in an area where both an end of the first surface proximate to the fourth surface and an end of the fourth surface proximate to the first surface are located and are configured to be in contact with the printing device. A contact surface defined by the contact portions is inclined to the fourth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Nagashima, Yuji Aoki, Yuki Takeda
  • Publication number: 20150246548
    Abstract: A printing material holding container is configured to be mounted in a printing device that includes a printing material supply tube fixed in the device, and a groove formed on an inner bottom surface of the device. The printing material holding container includes a case, a printing material holding portion provided inside the case, a printing material supply port configured to be connected with the printing material supply tube, a printing material filling port provided on the case, communicating with the printing material holding portion, and a convex part provided on the bottom of the case, configured to be inserted in the groove when the printing material holding container is mounted in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Yuji AOKI, Masahiro KARASAWA
  • Patent number: 9114621
    Abstract: A liquid container that allows liquid remaining in a liquid containing portion to be reduced is provided. An ink container includes an ink bag, and an ink outlet portion in communication with an internal portion of the ink bag. The internal portion of the ink bag is provided with an ink outlet tube, one of the ends of which is connected to the ink outlet portion, and the other end of which extends in the ink bag to the side opposite from the side where the ink outlet portion is formed. The ink outlet tube is made of a material having a specific gravity larger than that of the ink contained in the ink bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Shimizu, Yuji Aoki
  • Patent number: 9108417
    Abstract: A cartridge is adapted to be used in a printing apparatus having a mounting section provided with a lever and a terminal group. The cartridge includes a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a circuit board, and a first convex section. The upper surface includes a concave section configured and arranged to allow a regulating section of the lever to be inserted in the concave section. The circuit board is electrically connected with the terminal group. The first convex section is configured and arranged to be guided in a groove provided in the mounting section. The circuit board, the first convex section, and the concave section are disposed in the upper surface in a plan view of the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Hiroshi Satoh
  • Patent number: 9061508
    Abstract: A circuit board of an ink cartridge is provided with a plurality of terminals, with the contact portions of the plurality of terminals forming a plurality of lines. The contact portions of two terminals used for detecting installation are positioned in a first line, and the contact portion of a power terminal is positioned between the two terminals. The first line may be positioned to a leading side when the ink cartridge is moved in a prescribed direction to effect installation in a printer. Alternatively, the first line may be the line closest to an opening of an ink delivery port. Alternatively, the first line may be the line closest to an ink delivery needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Taku Ishizawa, Satoshi Shinada, Izumi Nozawa, Yuji Aoki, Hiroyuki Kawate, Takakazu Fukano, Noboru Asauchi, Yasuhiko Kosugi
  • Patent number: 9044972
    Abstract: A printing material holding container is equipped with a case which is equipped with a front surface, a first side surface, a second side surface, a third side surface, a fourth side surface, and a back surface, with a printing material holding unit being provided on the inside of the case. A first insertion hole is provided on the front surface. A printing material injection port is provided on the case, communicating with the printing material holding portion. A recess is provided in a corner portion at which the front surface and the first side surface intersect each other. The device side terminal unit is inserted into the recess in the mounted state. The recess includes an opening which is an entrance when the device side terminal unit is inserted into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Masahiro Karasawa
  • Publication number: 20150109383
    Abstract: The liquid housing container recycling method includes removing a second case member from a first case member, taking out a liquid housing body from inside of the first case member, forming on the liquid housing body an opening part that communicates with inside of a liquid housing unit, injecting into the inside of the liquid housing unit from the opening part that is formed liquid of a volume that is smaller than an initially housed volume when the liquid is initially injected and housed in the liquid housing unit of the liquid housing body in a state of being housed inside the case member, sealing the opening part of the liquid housing body, housing inside the first case member the liquid housing body for which the opening part is sealed, and attaching the second case member to the first case member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Yuji AOKI
  • Patent number: 9004659
    Abstract: An adapter is mountable to a liquid consumption apparatus to connect an external source of liquid to the liquid consumption apparatus. The liquid consumption apparatus includes a liquid intake portion for taking liquid into the liquid consumption apparatus and a liquid catcher for catching inadvertently spilled or sprayed liquid, the liquid catcher being provided below the liquid intake portion. The adapter includes a liquid supply portion and an accommodation portion. The liquid supply portion is configured to connect to the liquid intake portion to supply the liquid from the external source to the liquid intake portion. The accommodation portion is located below the liquid supply portion. In a state where the adapter is attached to the liquid consumption apparatus, the accommodation portion accommodates at least a part of the liquid catcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Aoki, Hiroshi Satoh
  • Patent number: 9004657
    Abstract: A liquid container detachably mounted on a liquid consuming apparatus includes: a liquid including dispersed particles and a solvent in which the dispersed particles are dispersed; and an accommodation bag accommodating the liquid and provided with a discharge portion discharging the liquid, in which a ratio of a volume of the liquid with respect to a capacity of the accommodation bag when the accommodation bag is used from an initial period of filling is 95% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuko Aoki, Tsuyoshi Sano, Yuji Aoki, Ippei Okuda, Shoki Kasahara
  • Publication number: 20150085035
    Abstract: A liquid housing container recycling method is provided for a liquid housing container with a liquid housing body that includes a liquid housing unit that is configured to house liquid, a supply member with a supply port that is configured to be connected to a liquid supply tube of a liquid consuming device, and a filter through which the liquid is configured to pass, with the liquid inside the liquid housing unit being supplied to the liquid consuming device by, after passing through the filter, flowing to the supply port along a supply flow path of the supply member. The liquid housing container recycling method includes forming a detour flow path in the liquid housing body such that the liquid inside the liquid housing unit flows to the supply port without passing through the filter in the detour flow path, and injecting the liquid inside the liquid housing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Yuji AOKI
  • Publication number: 20150077483
    Abstract: A liquid containing body includes a liquid containing vessel, and a casing member. The liquid containing vessel contains a liquid, and includes a supply member with a liquid supply opening that supplies the liquid to a liquid consumption apparatus. The casing member supports at least the supply member. The supply member has a cylindrical flow path section that defines the liquid supply opening. The casing member has a through hole forming section with a through hole. The cylindrical flow path section is insertable in the through hole. The casing member further has an engaging section that engages with the supply member to regulate movement of the cylindrical flow path section in an opposite direction to an insertion direction while the cylindrical flow path section is rotated with the insertion direction as an axial line in a state where the cylindrical flow path section is inserted in the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Takumi NAGASHIMA, Taku ISHIZAWA, Yuji AOKI
  • Publication number: 20150077485
    Abstract: A liquid container can be smoothly mounted to a mounting portion, and the liquid container is reliably locked when mounting is complete. The liquid container includes: a first surface that is on a side in a direction of insertion (+Y direction); a second surface that opposes the first surface; a third surface that intersects the first surface and the second surface and has formed therein a groove portion that can engage with a lever member; a fourth surface that opposes the third surface; and lower protruding wall portions that are provided on at least one of the third surface and the fourth surface, and are positioned by guide surfaces of lower guide ribs of the mounting portion when the ink cartridge is locked by engagement of the groove portion with the lever member due to the ink cartridge moving in the direction of insertion into the mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Takumi Nagashima, Yuji Aoki